ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
School Advisory Council Election Results: Thank you to all those that participated in the SAC election last week. Many thanks to all the parents that expressed an interest. The Council should represent the diversity of our student body; therefore, the open seats are filled by one Concord parent and one METCO parent. Thank you to Tracey Mohr and Gabrielle Haynes for your service.
Coffee with the Principal: Tomorrow, October 20th in person at Alcott 9:30am. This is a casual, informal meeting and a great opportunity for parents to chat, ask questions and connect over coffee. If you can’t make it tomorrow, there will be many other opportunities over the course of the year.
Alcott School Spirit Day: Tomorrow is Wacky Friday! Wear a mix of colors and patterns and show your school spirit!
Alcott School Turkey Trot - Save the Date! The Turkey Trot is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 1 from 9:45-11:45am at Emerson Track. Last year we raised $9,181. We have raised over $140,000 in the past 27 years and helped multiple local and national charities. This year our pledges will be helping the Open Table and the Concord Recreation Department Scholarship Fund. Please note this is not a PTG fundraiser. 100% of what we raise goes directly to the charities! See Mr. G.’s letter here.
Interested in Volunteering for the Turkey Trot? Email tgaudreau@concordps.org by Friday, October 27, 2023. All volunteers can meet Mr. G. at the Emerson track.
Alcott Movie Night: On Friday, October 27, bring a picnic blanket and join the fun with your Alcott Community! Tickets are $20 per family. Purchase Movie Tickets here. The Alcott Family Fund is available to those families needing financial assistance, please reach out to Rene Kashmiri for details.
If you’re interested in supporting the night please signup here.
Look for flyers in backpacks later this week with movie choices for the kids to vote on starting Monday!
The Meadow Farms sale is here and runs through October 26! Meadow Farms provides an opportunity to purchase items from their catalogue and a percentage of the proceeds goes back to Alcott as part of our fundraising efforts. It's a win win! You can purchase anything from candles, to wrapping paper, to food and kitchen items, to flower bulbs! Use the following link to browse the online storefront: Meadow Farm Alcott Sale. Or follow the instructions in the flyer sent home to set up your own account to share with family and friends.
November open PTG meeting: Save the date! The first Open PTG Meeting will take place in person at Alcott and over zoom on Tuesday, November 7th at 7pm.
Annual Alcott Parent Social and Silent Auction: We wanted to give a huge THANK YOU to our hosts Jen and Tom Lichoulas and all those that attended the social. It was a great night!
Thank you also to those that participated in our Alcott Silent Auction! It was a huge success that raised over $8,000 for our school and wider community! As a reminder those funds go towards:
the Alcott Family Fund, which supports those families in our school community that face financial challenges
curriculum enrichment programs for each grade level during the school year including special assemblies or field trips
classroom or specialist stipends that help cover the costs our teachers incur for supplies in their classrooms over the course of the year.
The Alcott PTG is dedicated to supporting activities that engage, enrich and enable positive community experiences for our teachers and students. We would not be able to do all of this and more without your support! We are so grateful to have families like you that help us provide a great experience for our students, teachers and staff. Thank you for supporting the Alcott Elementary School.
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Calendar and important dates
***Every Wednesday is a half-day***
Oct 20- Coffee with the Principal and Wacky Friday
Oct 27- Alcott Movie Night
Nov 1 - Alcott School Turkey Trot
Nov 7- PTG open meeting
Nov 9 - K-5 Conferences
Nov 10 - Veterans Day Observance
CPS/CCRSD 23-24 School Calendar can be found here.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Cell Phone Tower Forum: October 19, 2023 from 5-7pm; Town House - Select Board Hearing Room, 22 Monument Square. Plans for the installation of a cell phone tower are being considered to help improve cell service in Concord Center, including coverage near Alcott School and CCHS. If you are interested in sharing your opinion about whether the town should, or should not, install an additional cell tower to improve cell service, please attend this Town forum. You can also join on Zoom. Find link information here: https://concordma.gov/3411/Cell-Coverage-Listening-Session. Email the Concord School Board Committee to share your opinions! https://www.concordps.org/school-committee/contact-school-committee/
The CCHS Boys Basketball Program is once again hosting its annual Veterans Day Fundraiser on Friday, November 10th at CCHS from 9am - 2pm. Please click here to register and learn more. All proceeds benefit the boys basketball program.
The Concord Education Fund Invites you to its Fall Fundraiser - 80's Prom! Please consider joining the Concord Education Fund and other parents in support of our public schools at this Fall's Fundraiser Event - 80's Prom! Food catered by Saltbox Kitchen and fabulous 80's music will set the scene for a memorable and fun night raising money for our students, teachers and schools. The party is Saturday, November 4th at 7:00pm at the Concord Scout House. 80's Prom attire is encouraged! More details and the link to purchase tickets are on the Concord Education Fund's website. We hope to see you there!
SEPAC Coffee & Chat: Please join us in person for an informal meetup on Wednesday, October 25th at 9:30am. Rideout Park Pavilion @ 61 Laws Brook Rd, Concord. Coffee & Chats are a great way to meet other parents and members of SEPAC, discuss the back-to-school transition, ask questions and share ideas. Save the date: 11/14 at 5:30pm for a district talk about ESY and Summer School changes.
WCUC Earth Concert: Our neighbors at the West Concord Union Church (WCUC) are holding a free, family friendly Earth Concert next Saturday October 21 @ 2pm. 1317 Main St. Concord. WCUC has a long history in West Concord and is a treasured community resource. WCUC partners with many local organizations, including the Fowler Library who holds events in its Welcome Garden, and is also home to the Concord Conservatory of Music. This is a secular event and any optional donations will help WCUC go green by replacing a failing, fossil-fuel oil based heating system with an efficient, low emission air-based heat pump system and help support the town's climate goals.
First annual Bandemonium concert: The Concord Band is hosting a musical event for children and families. The band will play a variety of music, including Disney favorites, pop hits, and classic movie soundtracks. Participants are encouraged to engage in the music through a game of freeze dance, sing-alongs, and an opportunity to sit on stage with the band. Following the concert, children will have the opportunity to explore a variety of concert band instruments at our instrument petting zoo. This event is geared toward children grades K-5, however, all ages are welcome to participate. We hope to provide a fun experience for kids to see the band in action, gain exposure to classical instruments, and above all, enjoy their interaction with music! This event is held on Saturday, November 5th from 2:00pm-3:00pm at 51 Walden St., Concord, MA. We encourage families to purchase tickets ahead of time using the following link: https://www.ticketstage.com/concordband Tickets are $10 per person or $25 per family. Light refreshments will follow the concert.
Kicks for Cancer Gear - limited time only! Did you miss out on Kicks for Cancer gear in September? As the temperature drops, it’s time to bundle up with official Kicks for Cancer hoodies, sweatpants, and winter hats. Kicks gear is great for holiday gifting! Available only online at https://kicksforcancerstore.wixsite.com/website from October 20 - October 31. Advance sales only, pick up at CCHS on 12/2. Questions? allison_girolimetti@yahoo.com
Concord Rec Offerings
Before School Programs: There are still a spots left for Before School Sports. Program days depend on your student’s grade and run from 8:00 am until the start of school. For information and registration, please visit HERE
Other youth programs: Concord Youth Basketball has plenty of spots available, however they can fill up quickly! For information and registration, please visit HERE
Events: Trunk or Treat is October 29th 2:00-3:30 at The Beede Center Parking Lot. – Host a car or table at our very popular event. Decorate your trunk in a theme or just in Halloween décor. We provide candy. Register your car HERE. Registration is open for the Sleepy Hollow 5K on October 28th. Bring your family and friends, prizes will be awarded to top finishers as well as best costumes. You can register HERE
Concord Public Library Offerings
Leslie Riedel Memorial Lecture for Young People: Chris Van Dusen
Sunday, October 22 at 2pm
Goodwin Forum, Concord Free Public Library, 129 Main Street
Register: https://cfpl.info/Riedel23
The Riedel Lecture Series was created in memory of Leslie Riedel by her family and friends so that young people could meet some of their favorite authors. This year, the library is thrilled to honor Chris Van Dusen with the 11th annual Riedel Award for his impressive body of literary work for young people. He is the author and illustrator of the popular If I Built a School (and the If I Built series) and the Mister Magee series, and he is also the illustrator of the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo (among many more)! Time for book signing will follow the lecture.
Teens
Friday, October 20 at 3:30 PM: Someone in the room is a monster. Can you figure out their identity before it’s too late? Alternatively…can you convince your paranoid prey to eliminate potential witnesses for you? Main Library. No registration required.
Friday, October 27 at 3:30 PM: Get tips on how to turn your plain pumpkin into a grisly gourd that guts faster, carves easier, and keeps longer! This event is made possible by the generous support of the Concord Free Public Library Corporation. Main Library. Register online.
Children’s
Spooky Storytime (for Big Kids!)
Saturday, October 28 at 2 PM: Join us for some (slightly!) spooky stories on an autumn afternoon! Recommended for spooky story fans ages 4 and up. Main Library. No registration required.
Monday, October 30 at 4:30 PM: Drop in for a festive evening decorating pumpkins! We'll provide the pumpkins and decorations; you provide the creativity. Then, enter your pumpkin in our Pumpkin Decorating Contest (beginning at 5 PM) for the chance to win special prizes! Main Library. No registration required.
Please visit this space for updates on sports, music and theater registration dates, seminars, and more events throughout town.
PTG online volunteer information and sign-up: Please visit our website to discover all the ways both working and non-working parents and guardians are needed to support our wonderful staff, students, and families. Have something to offer that you don’t see listed there? There’s a place for you to submit that info as well! We hope to hear from you!